Apparatus for preventing device deployment failure

Abstract

An apparatus for preventing deployment failure or damage of a movable portion of a treatment device via a force limiting element in the treatment device.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An implant device comprising:
 a suture tube including a proximal end portion;   a first movable element; and   a second movable element, wherein:
 the first movable element and the second movable element are slidably coupled to one another via the suture tube, 
 the second movable element includes a force-limiting element that at least partially resists the slidable motion of the first movable element with respect to the second movable element. 
   
     
     
         3 . The implant device of  claim 2 , wherein the force limiting element comprises a connector including a latch at an end thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The implant device of  claim 3 , wherein the first movable element includes a connection block, the connection block including a notch therein and the latch is configured to reversibly engage the notch with an engagement force. 
     
     
         5 . The implant device of  claim 4 , wherein the latch disengages the notch when a second force applied to the suture tube overcomes the engagement force. 
     
     
         6 . The implant device of  claim 5 , wherein the application of the second force risks damaging the suture tube, and the overcoming of the engagement force causes the disengagement of the notch and the latch to prevent damage to the suture tube. 
     
     
         7 . The implant device of  claim 6 , wherein subsequent to the disengagement of the notch and the latch, the first movable element is configured to be reset to re-engage the latch and the notch. 
     
     
         8 . The implant device of  claim 4 , wherein the connection block includes a passage therethrough that receives a portion of the suture tube to provide the slidable coupling of the first movable element and the second movable element. 
     
     
         9 . The implant device of  claim 5 , wherein the second force is generated by a portion of the implant device striking a non-target tissue. 
     
     
         10 . The implant device of  claim 9 , wherein the non-target tissue comprises a bone. 
     
     
         11 . The implant device of  claim 2 , wherein the force limiting element comprises a spring. 
     
     
         12 . The implant device of  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the suture tube is received within a boundary defined by the spring. 
     
     
         13 . The implant device of  claim 11 , further comprising a friction element coupled to, or formed with, the suture tube. 
     
     
         14 . The implant device of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first movable element includes a connection block including a passage therethrough that receives a portion of the suture tube to provide the slidable coupling of the first movable element and the second movable element; and   the friction element conditionally prevents the suture tube from moving proximally through the passage and engaging the spring.   
     
     
         15 . The implant device of  claim 13 , wherein the friction element comprises a flattened or crimped portion of the suture tube, such that at the friction element, the suture tube has at least one radial dimension larger than a corresponding radial dimension of the rest of the suture tube. 
     
     
         16 . The implant device of  claim 13 , wherein the conditional prevention of the suture tube from moving proximally through the passage is configured to be overcome by a minimum force applied to the suture tube sufficient to push the friction element through the passage. 
     
     
         17 . The implant device of  claim 16 , wherein the minimum force is generated by a portion of the implant device striking a non-target tissue. 
     
     
         18 . The implant device of  claim 2 , further comprising a needle assembly slidably coupled to at least one of the first movable element or the second movable element. 
     
     
         19 . The implant device of  claim 18 , wherein the first movable element, the second movable element, and the needle assembly cooperate to place an implant in a tissue of a patient. 
     
     
         20 . An implant device comprising:
 a suture tube including a proximal end portion;   a needle assembly;   a first movable element; and   a second movable element, wherein:
 the first movable element and the second movable element are slidably coupled to one another via the suture tube, and 
 the second movable element includes a connector including a latch at an end thereof that at least partially resists the slidable motion of the first movable element with respect to the second movable element, 
 the needle assembly is slidably coupled to at least one of the first movable element or the second movable element, and the first movable element, the second movable element, and the needle assembly cooperate to place an implant in a tissue of a patient. 
   
     
     
         21 . An implant device comprising:
 a suture tube including a proximal end portion;   a friction element coupled to, or formed with, the suture tube;   a first movable element; and   a second movable element, wherein:
 the first movable element and the second movable element are slidably coupled to one another via the suture tube, 
 the second movable element includes a force limiting spring and the friction element conditionally prevents the suture tube from moving proximally with respect to the second movable element.